Position Overview
The Simulated Participant (SP) at the Simulation & Immersive Learning Center at Texas A&M University plays a critical role in healthcare simulation education by portraying realistic and repeatable roles, such as patients, family members, or healthcare professionals, to support experiential learning and assessment for healthcare learners. SPs contribute to creating safe, high-quality, and professional simulation experiences that enhance learner competence, critical thinking, and patient safety. This position adheres to the standards set by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) and the Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE) Standards of Best Practice (SOBP).
Key Responsibilities
- Accurately and consistently portray assigned roles (e.g., standardized patient, simulated patient, or simulated participant) based on detailed case scenarios provided by the Simulation & Immersive Learning Center.
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Maintain realism and repeatability in physical, emotional, and verbal responses to create authentic clinical encounters, as outlined in ASPE SOBP Domain 2: Case Development.
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Adapt portrayals to meet the needs of various learners, including medical, nursing, pharmacy, and allied health students, in formative and summative assessment contexts.
- Provide constructive, objective, and learner-centered feedback to students on their communication, history-taking, physical examination, and interpersonal skills from the perspective of the role portrayed, per ASPE SOBP Domain 3: SP Training for Feedback.
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Complete assessment instruments (e.g., checklists or rating scales) accurately and consistently to evaluate learner performance, as trained by SP Educators.
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Participate in debriefing sessions, when required, to support learner reflection and growth.
- Attend mandatory training sessions to learn case materials, role portrayal techniques, feedback delivery methods, and assessment protocols, as guided by ASPE SOBP Domain 3: SP Training.
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Prepare for each simulation session by reviewing case scripts, practicing role portrayal, and ensuring familiarity with learning objectives and evaluation criteria.
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Collaborate with SP Educators to refine portrayal and feedback skills to meet program quality standards.
- Professionalism and Safety
- Maintain a safe physical and psychological work environment for self, learners, faculty, and staff, adhering to ASPE SOBP Domain 1: Safe Work Environment and SSH guidelines for ethical simulation practice.
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Uphold confidentiality regarding case details, learner performance, and simulation activities.
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Demonstrate professionalism through punctuality, reliability, and respectful interactions with all stakeholders.
- Participate in quality assurance processes, such as case reviews or feedback calibration sessions, to ensure consistency and quality in simulation delivery.
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Provide input to SP Educators on case development or simulation processes to support continuous improvement, as encouraged by ASPE SOBP Domain 4: Program Management.
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Support hybrid simulations that may involve manikins, task trainers, or other modalities, as directed.
Qualifications
- Education and Experience
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High school diploma or equivalent required; experience in acting, teaching, or healthcare is preferred but not mandatory.
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Prior experience as a standardized patient, simulated patient, or simulated participant is an asset.
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Skills and Abilities
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Strong verbal and non-verbal communication skills to portray roles realistically and provide effective feedback.
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Ability to memorize and recall detailed case information to ensure consistency in portrayal.
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Emotional intelligence and adaptability to respond appropriately to diverse learner interactions.
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Comfort with receiving and incorporating constructive feedback to improve performance.
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Basic computer literacy for completing online training modules, assessment forms, or scheduling tasks.
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Personal Attributes
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Commitment to professionalism, accountability, and collaboration, as outlined in ASPE SOBP values.
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Willingness to work in a dynamic, team-oriented environment with diverse learners and faculty.
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Ability to maintain psychological and physical safety during simulation activities, including sensitive examinations, with appropriate training and consent.
Working Conditions
- Schedule: Part-time, on-call position with variable hours based on simulation schedules and needs. Availability may be required on weekdays, evenings, or weekends.
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Environment: Work is performed in a controlled simulation center environment, with scenarios conducted in clinical exam rooms or simulated healthcare settings.
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Physical Requirements: Ability to perform physical tasks associated with role portrayal (e.g., lying in a hospital bed, simulating symptoms). Specific roles, such as Physical Exam Teaching Associate (PETA), Gynecological Teaching Associate (GTA), or Male Urogenital Teaching Associate (MUTA), may involve teaching sensitive examinations, requiring additional training and consent.
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Psychological Safety: The Simulation & Immersive Learning Center prioritizes a safe work environment, with protocols in place to protect SPs from physical or emotional harm, as mandated by ASPE SOBP and SSH standards.
Training and Development
- SPs will receive comprehensive training in role portrayal, feedback delivery, and assessment techniques, aligned with ASPE SOBP Domain 3: SP Training.
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Ongoing professional development opportunities will be provided to enhance skills and ensure alignment with best practices, as supported by ASPE SOBP Domain 5: Professional Development.
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SPs may pursue additional certifications, such as those offered by SSH (e.g., Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator), with support from the Simulation & Immersive Learning Center.
Compensation
- Competitive hourly rate, starting at $25 and up to $80 per hour, commensurate with experience and role complexity.
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Additional compensation may be provided for roles requiring specialized training (e.g., PETA/GTA/MUTA) or high-stakes assessments.
Application Process
To apply, submit a resume and cover letter detailing your interest in the Simulated Participant role and any relevant experience to [insert contact information or application portal]. Selected candidates will be invited to an interview and audition to assess suitability for role portrayal and feedback delivery.
About the Simulation & Immersive Learning Center
The Simulation & Immersive Learning Center at Texas A&M University is dedicated to advancing healthcare education through innovative simulation-based practices. Accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, our center collaborates with faculty, learners, and community partners to deliver evidence-based, high-fidelity simulation experiences that improve patient safety and clinical outcomes.
Note: This position description is informed by the ASPE Standards of Best Practice (SOBP) and SSH guidelines for simulation-based education, ensuring alignment with best practices in healthcare simulation. For more information on ASPE SOBP, visit www.aspeducators.org. For SSH standards, visit www.ssih.org.
